Manhunt

Director John Woo is preparing to remake classic Japanese action thriller Manhunt for a new generation of film fans. Actor Ken Takakura, who died in November (14), starred in the 1976 original, adapted from the Hot Pursuit book by Juko Nishimura, about a prosecutor who sets out on a mission to clear his name after he is framed for robbery, rape and murder.
Now the Face/Off moviemaker will revamp the story for production firm Media Asia and will begin shooting the project later this year (15).
A statement released by Media Asia chairman Peter Lam reads: "When I found out that John was a huge fan of the late Ken Takakura, I immediately gave him a call, trying to convince him to direct the film for us."
Woo adds, "By chance I was mourning the loss of Takakura when Peter called, and I accepted the challenge in a heartbeat."

Police in Australia have launched a hunt for an intruder who allegedly pulled a knife on a security guard on the set of Johnny Depp's next Pirates Of The Caribbean blockbuster. The latest installment of the pirate franchise is currently being filmed Down Under, but the shoot on the Gold Coast was marred by a dramatic bust-up on Tuesday (10Mar15).
Police were called to the set to investigate reports a man dressed as Depp's character, Captain Jack Sparrow, had threatened a member of the onset security team and then run off into bushland.
Cops launched a manhunt with a dog team and appealed to the public for information, even releasing a picture of the suspect which shows him dressed as a pirate with a live parrot on his shoulder.
A statement from the Queensland Police Service reads, "Police are looking at CCTV footage to determine the identity of the man. Anyone who can assist police with their enquiries is urged to contact police."
A worker on the film tells Abc.net.au, "It's in the hands of the professionals. We can leave it to them."
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is due for release in 2017.

Friends and family of comic book artist Norman Lee are praying for a miracle after he went missing while snorkelling with his wife off the Cayman Islands on Thursday (05Mar15). Lee, whose work most recently featured in the Spider-Man, Avengers and X-Men series, was on vacation with his wife Jan when they became separated.
Jan returned to the Reef Resort shore, but she reached out to police for help when her husband failed to surface.
Local authorities launched a massive manhunt for Lee, but they have since called off the search, insisting it's highly unlikely the 47 year old is alive.
Chief Inspector Brad Ebanks says, "The currents in that area are strong and it is unlikely that we will make any recovery at this stage.
"We put all assets available to us, both law enforcement and privately owned. We thank all those who assisted us in this time of need. Unfortunately we were unable to find or recover Mr. Lee."
Tributes have since been posted on Lee's Facebook page, with Philip Simon, an editor at Dark Horse Comics, writing, "Still hoping for a miracle. Norman, so many people love you."

Police in San Diego, California were placed on high alert ahead of Chris Brown's show in the city after five revellers were injured in a shooting at his concert in San Jose. The Fine China hitmaker escaped injury after a gunman opened fire during a private show at the Fiesta nightclub in San Jose in the early hours of Sunday (11Jan15), but five revellers were hurt, and police subsequently launched a manhunt for those responsible.
Brown was booked to make an appearance in San Diego on Sunday night just hours after the shooting, and local authorities were placed on high alert.
Local reports suggest patrols were stepped up, and a statement from San Diego police officials revealed they worked closely with bosses at the Parq nightclub to make sure revellers were kept safe.
Several police cars were spotted on the street close to the venue as gig-goers queued to get in, and the event reportedly went ahead without incident.
Brown has yet to comment on the shooting.

Funnywoman Tina Fey has urged fellow comedians not to be deterred from making controversial jokes following the gun massacre at the headquarters of a French satirical magazine and threats to U.S. cinemas over The Interview movie. Gunmen stormed the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris on Wednesday (07Jan15), killing 12 people, including journalists, cartoonists and the publication's editor-in-chief.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by extremists in revenge for the publication of cartoons featuring Muslim Prophet Mohammed, and police have launched a full-scale manhunt in a bid to catch the perpetrators.
Fey, who is famed for satirising politicians on U.S. sketch show Saturday Night Live, has become the latest celebrity to speak out about the attack, and she has urged fellow comedians not to be deterred from making controversial jokes.
When asked about the Paris atrocity during an appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California, Fey told reporters, "Obviously, that news is terrible and tragic and upsetting."
She went on to draw comparisons with a terror threat issued against U.S. cinemas over Seth Rogen's controversial comedy film The Interview, which depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Fey added, "You look at that (the Paris attack) and you look at the controversy surrounding The Interview, it makes you think about how important free speech is and how it absolutely must be defended. (We) cannot back down on free speech in any way. We all have to stand firm on the issue of free speech. But we're Americans, and even if it's dumb jokes in The Interview, we have the right to make them."

Rapper Maino was arrested for misdemeanour assault on Thursday (23Oct14), two days after police launched a manhunt over an alleged bust-up. Officers of the New York Police Department began searching for the hip-hop star on Tuesday (21Oct14) after porn actress Mellanie Monroe claimed he had assaulted her during an altercation outside a nightclub in the Big Apple.
Maino, real name Jermaine Coleman, turned himself in to cops on Thursday morning and was arrested for misdemeanour assault, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.
The outcome of his arraignment hearing in Manhattan was unknown as WENN went to press.

Massachusetts native Casey Affleck is set to star in a new movie about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
The Gone Baby Gone star will play the lead in Boston Strong, based on the book of the same title by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge. The drama will detail the city-wide manhunt to find the two men believed to be responsible for setting off bombs near the finish line at the annual Boston Marathon, and the citizens' reaction to the tragedy. Affleck, who was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will also produce the project with his partner John Ridley, according to TheWrap.

Top Mixed Martial Arts fighter War Machine has been captured by U.S. Marshals and Simi Valley Police officials in California after spending a week as a fugitive. Jonathan Koppenhaver went on the run last week (08Aug14) after he was accused of beating up his estranged girlfriend, porn star Christy Mack, and her new love Corey Thomas in Las Vegas.
Authorities found him sitting in a hotel room near Los Angeles eating pizza. He did not put up a fight, according to TMZ.com.
Reality TV star Duane 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' Chapman joined the manhunt for Koppenhaver earlier this week (beg11Aug14). Reports suggest he was part of the force that tracked the MMA fighter to the hotel.

A&amp;E
Reality TV star Dog The Bounty Hunter has joined a manhunt for a professional mixed martial arts fighter accused of beating up his girlfriend and a pal.
The tough guy, real name Duane Chapman, has confirmed he's part of a Las Vegas group on the hunt for Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, who is wanted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for questioning in connection to an incident last week (08Aug14).
Police have not released the names of the two victims, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship star's porn actress girlfriend Christy Mack has revealed she's recovering from 18 broken facial bones, a broken nose and rib and a liver rupture on Twitter.com.
In a tweet, Dog the Bounty Hunter, who has made a name for himself tracking down and capturing fugitives, writes, "Time is up! BEWARE OF THE DOG."
Koppenhaver, who faces felony charges of domestic battery with substantial bodily harm and assault with a deadly weapon, might prove elusive - responding to the allegations against him on Twitter, he writes, "The cops will never give me fair play, never believe me. Still deciding what to do but at the end of the day it's all just heart breaking."

Paramount Pictures
As the fall draws closer, it brings with it the start of Oscar season, when every studio unveils its biggest, buzziest and most dramatic films in an attempt to earn some recognition on the biggest night in Hollywood. And while every year does turn out a great deal of excellent films and incredible performances, at a certain point they all start to feel the same, with one domestic drama blending into another and period pieces all attempting to outshine each other. But there is some variety hidden amongst the Oscar bait, with some films providing original, interesting stories or creative twists on classic plots. In case you’re looking to add some variety to your fall film lineup, we’ve run down the best, most original awards bait hitting theaters this fall. Once December hits, however, it's every moviegoer for himself.
Interstellar Smack dab in the middle of Oscar season, Christopher Nolan will finally unveil his latest epic, Interstellar. Part post-apocalyptic drama, part space opera, part Hollywood blockbuster, and Phase II of the McConaissance, the film follows a group of explorers who set off in for a wormhole that will allow them to travel from one solar system to another in search of resources that can save the earth now that it’s run out of food. So, you know, just your usual low-key, easy to follow, low-stakes story. Opens: November 7
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Every year, there’s at least one Oscar baity film the centers on a relationship falling apart, but The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby puts a new spin on that old classic by creating an epic, two-part film that tells the story from both his (James McAvoy) and her (Jessica Chastain) perspectives. Since premiering at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews, we’ve been waiting impatiently for our chance to see the film. As it turns out, we’ll actually get two: a one-film version which blends both sides together will be released along with the original two-film version. Opens: September 12
The Boxtrolls Of all the films being released at the end of 2014 – war epics, biopics, highly-anticipated comebacks – one of the most exciting is an animated film about the friendly trolls who live under the sewers of a small English village. That’s because The Boxtrolls is the latest film from Laika, the stop-motion studio that has made such wonderful films as Coraline and ParaNorman. Like its predecessors, The Boxtrolls looks like an incredibly detailed, magical, funny adventure, but unlike them, we’re hoping that the studio will finally be able to get the recognition they deserve for their labors of love. And with no Disney or Pixar films to compete, they might finally have a shot. Opens: September 26
Gone Girl We know, we know: you’re probably sick of hearing about Gone Girl. But the buzz surrounding the film, its stars, the book it’s based on doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, so you might as well embrace it. Besides, it gives us yet another opportunity to study the enigma that is Ben Affleck’s career. Will he get a third Oscar for this? Will it finally make people take him seriously as an actor and filmmaker? Are we all going to stop praising him the second the first trailer for Batman V. Superman comes out? Nobody knows. Opens: October 3
Sony Pictures Releasing
Fury It wouldn’t be awards season without a World War II drama, and 2014 is no exception. However, in addition to the typical slate of inspiring biopics and domestic dramas about the home-front, Brad Pitt and David Ayer are offering Fury. It’s a small-scale – well, as small scale as a world war gets – film about the lives and missions of a single tank crew tasked with venturing behind enemy lines, and it features a cast of acclaimed, yet underappreciated actors like Logan Lerman, Jon Berenthal, and Michael Pena. Just when you thought you’d seen every single war drama that’s been made, there finally comes one that’s actually intriguing. Opens: November 14
Kill the Messenger His Avengers co-star Robert Downey Jr. might have a higher-profile film opening that day, but we’re much more interested in Jeremy Renner’s Kill the Messenger. Based on the true story of Gary Webb, a reporter who uncovered the CIA’s connection to the Nicaraguan drug trade, the film centers on the manhunt that Webb became a part of after going public with his evidence. It’s the biggest, most intense role that Renner has had since The Hurt Locker, and after years of being overlooked in favor of his showier co-star, we’re excited to see him get some of the attention he deserves. Opens: October 10
Birdman Everyone love a comeback story, right? Well, how about one that’s a little more surreal? That’s what Michael Keaton is going for with his upcoming film Birdman, which takes places over the course of the several days in which washed-up actor Riggan Thompson, who made his name as superhero, attempts to mount a comeback with a play that he wrote, directed and is starring in. With Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu at the helm and a cast featuring Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, and Edward Norton, we’d be interested in this even if it weren’t Keaton’s first big film in years. Opens: October 17
Beyond the Lights After winning over audiences everywhere with her breakthrough role in Amma Asante’s Belle, Gugu Mbatha-Raw is set to prove that she can do more than just period pieces with Beyond the Lights. Mbatha-Raw plays Noni, a Rihanna-like pop star struggling with being a puppet for her pushy stage mom and greedy record executives, who finds joy in a relationship with down-to-earth cop Kaz (Nate Parker). The story might be familiar to anyone who saw Britney Spears’ “Lucky” video, but it’s the perfect opportunity for Mbatha-Raw to really showcase her talent with a role that requires her to sing, dance, fall in love, and break our hearts. Opens: November 14
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Synopsis

Reality series in which a team of three "hunters" stalks 13 contestants on Hawaii as the adventurers try to make their way across the island within six days. The last contestant who remains without being hit with a paintball by a hunter wins the $250,000 prize.